God Our Helper

You come to the help of those who gladly do right,who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry.How then can we be saved? Isaiah 64:5

In this passage, there is a clear contrast of two different lifestyles: those who did right and remembered God’s ways, and those who continued to sin against His ways. It was God’s response to these two lifestyles that really makes the difference apparent. He chose to come to the help of those who gladly did right by remembering His ways.

What a great privilege for those who, through His Spirit, are following Him! God Himself has become their helper. Continual sin against the ways of God, however, brings about the anger of God. This was the condition the people of Judah found themselves in. Hence, Isaiah’s cry, “How then can we be saved?” Given the universal human sin condition, it is a contemporary cry for us as well.

Regarding the Church, those who have cast their hope for salvation upon Jesus, we answer Isaiah’s question by pointing to the Son of God, crucified and arisen, and say, “It is through Him that we can be saved!” Still, the help or anger of God, revival or wrath, seems to have much to do with a choice. We either do right and walk in His ways, or continue to sin against His ways. What do you choose to do today?

Lord, help me today to do right. I want to always remember Your ways and walk in them. I am desperate for Your help in my life. Forgive me when I have forgotten Your ways and gone my own way instead. I do not want to experience Your anger, but instead, Your help.

Praise “Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.” Thank him for his willingness to leave his heavenly home to live among sinners. Confess any way in which you have been unwilling to sacrifice in order to come alongside those in need. Commit yourself to having the attitude of Jesus (Phil. 2:5-11). Ask God to give you that selfless love.

Pray that the presence of Jesus through you will effectively draw an unsaved neighbor to him. Ask God to give you the right actions, words, and love in your community.